Bullet-shield knapsack



(No Model.)

B. W. WEBB.

BULLET SHIELD KNAPSAGK.

No. 303,901; Patented Aug. 19, 1884.

wWZTJK/ESSES UNITED STATES PATENT Oriana.

ROBERT W. \VEBB, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

BULLET-SHIELD KNAPSACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,901, dated August 19, 1884.

(No model.)

and I do declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, and to letters or figures of refer ence marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective View of my device. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. Sisacross-section. Fig. ei is an end View. Fig. 5 is also a vertical section, and Fig. 8 a plan View.

This invention has relation to soldiers knapsacks; andit consists, mainly, in providing a knapsack with walls adapted to be adjusted to form abullctshield embrasure, all as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the inner or back wall of the knapsack; B, the outer wall; 0 C, the side walls, and D and E the top and bottom or end walls thereof when the knapsack is in its normal position, strapped to the back. When, however, it is to be used as a bnlletshield or embrasure, it is placed on the parapet or ground in front of the soldier, in horizontal position, in which the wall A becomes the bottom; B, the top O O, the sides, and D andE the ends, which are respectively folded upward and downward. In the construction shown the wall A is provided at its end with a strong wire, a, bent in rectangular form, to provide bearings at Z) I) for the hinge-barrels c c of the side pieces, 0, and at d for the hinge-barrels e e of the top B, and for the hinge-barrels g g of the end piece D. To the front end of the wall A is pivoted the end The upper or inner surface of the wall or piece A is provided with arc-shaped guides 71 which may be dovetail or T form in cross-section, to engage bearings k, or notches of similar form, madein the lower edges of the side pieces, C, so that said side pieces can be moved inward or toward each other in front, thereby forming an embrasure, the sides of which slope toward each other, to provide a small front opening at I, through which the muzzle of a musket or rifle may he protruded.

In order to lessen still further the size of the opening Z, and to provide a sloping top to the' embrasure, the edges m of the sides 0 are made inclined or sloping from their rear ends forward. hen, however, the knapsack is constructedwith rectangular side pieces, each side 0 is made in two sections, .9 and t, which are connected by hinges -22 along an inclined joint, as shown, so that when the upper sections, it, are folded inward the top B will rest upon the inclined edge m of the lower or main section. The arc-guides h are provided with end stops, z: and w, to limit the movements of the sides inward and outward. Then in position as an embrasure, the front end piece, E, is allowed to fall downward, and affords protection below the level of the floor A of the embrasure, and by turning the, end piece I) upward protection is afforded above the level of the highest portion of the top B of the embrasnre, this protection being increased by placing the blanket or garment roll N on the top B, just in front of the piece D.

In order to hold the parts securely in position as an embrasure, side rods may be provided; but this is not regarded as essential.

The walls of the knapsack are designed to be made of steel, and when they are adjusted to form aknapsack they are connected together securely by hooks or other common. i'astenings.

What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. Abullet-shield knapsack having pivoted steel walls, substantially as specified.

2. A bullet-shield knapsack having its side walls made in sections formed with oblique joint edges, and pivoted to allow the upper sections to fold inward.

3.. A bulletshield knapsack having see tional side walls adjustably connected to the oted top B, and pivoted side walls, 0 0, subback, pivoted end Walls, and top, and curved stantially as specified.

guides connecting the back and side walls. In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in 4. Aknapsack having m0vableparts,wherepresence of two witnesses.

5 by it is adapted to be converted into a bullet- ROI-3T. WV. WEBB.

shield embrasure, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the back wall, A,

having the pivoted end piece E, of the piv- Vitnesses:

PHILIP O. MAsI, M. P. GALLAN. 

